Phase III trial for new cancer agent

Novartis AG announced on April 11 that phase III trials of a novel cancer agent, which could help over one million patients, have begun

Novartis AG announced on April 11 that phase III trials of a novel cancer agent, which could help over one million patients, have begun.

The US based pharmaceutical company has been developing ASA404 as a tumour-vascular disrupting agent (Tumour-VDA) to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It reported positive results from phase III studies of ASA404 stating that it offered a survival advantage to patients of more than five months and it is hoped the agent will become a first-line treatment.

Alessandro Riva, executive vice-president and global head of development of Novartis oncology, said: "We look forward to exploring the unique mechanism of action of ASA404 in non-small lung cancer to potentially help the more than one million people who develop lung cancer each year."